Shane Long says that it was an easy decision to join Southampton from Hull City this summer.

Long had only spent six months at Hull prior to making a transfer to St. Mary's, but he had no hesitation at agreeing to sign from Ronald Koeman's side.

“Southampton obviously really wanted to get me," he said to the club's official site. "When I came down and saw the set-up and met the manger and he spoke to me about what he wanted to do, it was an easy decision for me."

Much was made of the £12 million price-tag which Southampton paid to sign Long, but he has begun repaying that after scoring his first goal for the club in midweek in the League Cup.

It was an important strike for the Irishman, who still has a lot to prove in terms of his goalscoring.

Long's record at the top level is not great, even if his work rate and desire do compensate somewhat for his lack of goals. He will be hoping to make it two in two when his side take on Hull this weekend, though.

Long returns to the KC Stadium with Southampton on Saturday, as the Saints look to establish their position in the top four.

At the moment Ronald Koeman's men are in second position in the table, despite many predicting them to struggle before the season started, and Long believes that is because the squad are all still trying to impress.

“People said it was a whole new squad and we were going to struggle this season, because there were so many new faces, but in a way, everybody kind of came in fresh and wanting to impress," he said.

“We’ve hit the ground running. We’re going to have a few tests over the next couple of months, especially getting into December. We’re under no illusions. We deserve to be where we are, but it can be taken away from us so quickly."

John Verrall

John is a sports journalism graduate from Staffordshire University. He is a huge football fan and a minute-by-minute writer for UEFA.com, as well as being a freelance writer for Sports New Media. John has also seen his work been published by the likes of The Guardian, World Soccer and Shoot Magazine over the course of his bourgeoning journalism career so far. He has a particular expertise in all things to do with the Football League – and is a passionate Peterborough United fan.